If you have been looking for the perfect day pack for hiking trips of a day or less, stop searching, you have found the one. The Osprey Daylite Waist has been my companion for about a year now for city trips as well as hiking trips of up to 5 hours, and nothing else needs to be researched or said. It’s literally the kind of bag I’ve been always looking for. No backpack-style bag with two straps, it’s small but fits standard 0.5L bottles (even 0.75 if the dimensions are right), holds snacks, my phone as well as sunnies and several other bits and bobs. With an own weight of just around 200 g, the Osprey Daylite Waist fanny-pack (or waist pack) doesn’t add up to much and is easy to be carried. It’s unisex and available in a limited selection of colours, but more below. At the end of this travel gear review blog post, you will also find a few pictures of my new favourite hiking bag, as well as two of me carrying it (for reference, I’m a size M and don’t think it’s too bulky on me, the Osprey Daylite Waist fits and sits perfectly).
And just a disclaimer for clarity, I bought this bag myself on Amazon, this blog post is not affiliated with Osprey, just my honest opinion after owning it for about a year. You will find links to Amazon below if you want to buy this fanny pack bag as well.
Female Review of the Osprey Daylite Waist used as a day trip bag for hikes
When I first bought this “hiking fanny pack” on Amazon in late spring of 2020 I was actually looking for a versatile bag to be worn for day trip city excursions. To have everything on me, and easily accessible even while walking. As I wasn’t too happy with the Fjallraven Kanken Sling, I came across the Daylite Waist by my trusted outdoor gear company Osprey. In black, the bag isn’t too flashy and fits different kinds of outfits, from jeans, a shirt and a jean jacket for the city to leggings and an oversized shirt for hikes.
So, what makes this waist bag so special? To me, it definitely is the ideal size. Big enough for big bottles of water, and everything else I believe I need to carry around when going exploring, both in a city or forest. A packet of tissues, a trail mix, something to hydrate, disinfectant/wet wipes, chapstick, sunscreen, keys, money, a pair of sunnies, headphones, … you name it, a lot. Even an iPad mini or Kindle does fit inside the Osprey Daylite Waist if needed!
The compartments aren’t “perfect” in the sense that I wish there would be another smaller pocket inside, but definitely well-thought-through. The Osprey Daylite Waist features two compartments, one bigger one including a breathable zippered pocket with a key attachment clip, and a smaller one on the front of the bag. The smaller one can be closed with one zipper, and the bigger one with the help of two. If the one in the front is filled to the max, it gets a bit tight in the bigger one, and vice versa. Therefore I’m using the one on the front for my easily accessible trail mix, tissues etc, and store my phone, money, keys and other valuables in the zippered pocket inside the bigger compartment.
Even though the Osprey Daylite Waist bag is meant to be a “waist pack”, I prefer to use it thrown around my right shoulder. It just doesn’t have much grip on my waist, when actively walking and engaging/shaking my hips. It just sits better and more comfortably on my back 🙂 The adjustable belt is wide enough to be worn comfortably, and distributing the weight well. When wearing the bag on my back, I use it at the maximum length, as seen in the pictures.
Besides the combination of being practical and comfortable, the fact that the Osprey Daylite Waist bag is made of sustainable materials (bluesign®-approved fabrics, GRS-certified recycled polyester) is definitely another big plus. Plus, it’s not too flashy in this “black” colour scheme with dark grey and dark blue/tortoise hues. I can definitely recommend this bag to anyone searching for a durable day pack, a small hiking bag or a bag close to your body when travelling and being on the road.
Technical Facts Osprey Daylite Waist
Gender: Unisex
Volume: 2 Litres
Weight: 0.2 kg
Dimensions: Length 16 cm, width 45 cm, depth 9 cm
Material: Fabric – 150D Recycled PET Packcloth / “high-quality bluesign®-approved recycled fabrics, GRS-certified recycled nylon and a PFC-free DWR coating”
more info on the official website: ospreyeurope.com/shop/gb_en/daylite-waist
current retail price: around 25 bucks
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